Ladderproof knitting



w. HIRT EI'AL LADDER-PROOF KNITTING March 2 1943.

Filed larch 31, 19:59v '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gig.

10 gigll Ali March 2 1943, w. HlRTVErAL I LADDER-PROOF KNITTING Filed March 51, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i. am 7 f March 2 1943.

w. HIRT ETAL' LADDER-PROOF KNITTING Filed larch 31. 1-939 Fig.25 F

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.23 I a duced with a single yarn,

Patented Mar 2, 1943 Walter Hirt, Wetzikon. and Arnold Diirsteier,

I Zurich, Switzerland Application March 81. 1939, Serial No. 265,348

In Germany April 5,

14 Claims.

In the method of machine knitting of runproof goods according to the invention, the production of a loop structure is efiected by the cooperation of a plurality of needle elements, which needle elements have their working hooks relatively stepped, i. e. each plurality comprises needle elements of difierent lengths.

This permits the production of run-proof yet elastic goods, for example stockings, in which the leg parts and the foot parts can be fully fashioned; in the knownrun-proof goods the interloopings cause the elasticity to be reduced. It is in addition possible to work with one or more yarns, for example a ground yarn and a binder yarn can be provided. The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example the method according to the inven-' tion and an apparatus according to the invention for practicing the method and also the structures which are produced thereby.

Figures 1 to 6 show a first example of the apparatus in various stages of its operation,

Figures 1 to 6 are corresponding horizontal sections which further illustrate the stitch formation, using a single yarn,

Figures '7 to 12 show the apparatus in various stages of operatipn illustrating the stitch formation using two yarns, 7 Figures 7 to 12 are corresponding horizontal sections,

Figure 13 shows one form of needle consisting of two elements,

Figure 14 shows another embodiment of such needle,

Figure 15 illustrates the knitted structure pro- Figure 16 shows the same structure stretchedin the direction of the wales, v

Figure 1'1 illustrates the knitted structure produced with two yarns,

Figures 18 to 25 show a second'example'of apparatus in various stages of operation,

Figures 18 to 25 are corresponding horizontal sections which further illustrate the production of the knitted structure, and

Figure 26 shows a knitted structure which can be produced.

In Figures 1 and 130i the drawings, l is one needle element in the form, of a bearded needle with beard 2, head 3, eye 4 and shank. 5. A groove 6 which extends over part of the stem of the needle element 1 and over the shank thereof, receives another needle element 1, also in the form of a bearded needle, of which the beard ismarked 8, the head Sand the shank Ill.

The upper part of the stem oflfset so that a free space the stems of the needle elements. oflset stem of the needle tion 12; a sinker is marked The two needle elements I II is left between 13 and a press It. and 1 ofwhich the first is longer than the second, form together a kind of double needle with two hooks one behind the other and in stepped, position. The two needles I, 1 are secured by their shanks 5, III to a common needle bar; not shown, which reciprocates thedouble needles arranged for example parallel to their longitudinal ner; in Figures 1"- to 6 needles are shown.

In Figures 1 and 1 A one another in a flat bed, in direction in the requisite mantwo adjacent double is the last loop made I on'the fabric, which encircles the stems of both needles I and 1 and lies behind the sinker 18. B is the yarn to be knitted which is laid on the stem of the needle 1 and lies in a front catch-of the sinker 13; the sinker i3 is omitted in Figure 1. The double needle is in its extreme forward position, from which it' is first withdrawn by the needle bar, into an intermediate position shown in' Figure 3. In doing so, in passing through the position of Figure 2 the yarn B is hooked by the heard of the shorter needle 1 while the loop A slides over the heard 8 which has in passing been pressed into the eye ii of the stem of the needle 1 by the press ll whereby the beard has in passing been closed after the yarn B has passed into the beard. Thereafter the loop A, catching the enclosed yarn B, passes over the head 9 of the needle 1 which has a horn directed towards the stem of the front needle I and which has in the meantime been pushed into the eye 4 of the stem of needle I by pressure on the projection l2 oi'the stem of needle 1, in order to prevent. the loop A from getting into the space l l; in Figure 3 the part of the yarn 18 connecting it to loop A is omitted. The yarn B now forms a loop C drawnvthrough the loop A as indicated in Figures 3 stroke intermediate position of Figure 3 the double needle i, 1 is now pushed into its extreme forward position as in Figure 4. The loop Aas shown in Figure 4 nowenters the space II that is between the stems it now lies only around the stem of I; during this forward movement of the double needle the loop C comes out of the heard of the shorter needle 1. In this way the loop structure of Figure 4" is produced.

of the needle 1 is- On the said element 1 is a projecand 3". From the half I of the two needles so that v the element needle I, I due to the retraction of the double needle, slides over the beard of the longer needle I as indicated by an arrow in Figure 5. Thus after the loop structure of Figure 5', that shown in Figures 6 and 6' (which is here shown in the condition when the loop A has been knocked right over the closed beard of the longer needle I) is obtained.

In the, loop formation above described, the stitch loop C formed of the looped yarn 1B is twice drawn through the loop A, so that the yarn of loop C forms ineach of its limbs a loop D (Fig. 6) which encircles the'yarn of the related loop A, thus forming a ring encircling each limb of the loop A. Accordingly if a thread ofthe finished knitted fabric breaks, slipp n of the stitches and the formation of a run or ladder is hindered.

From the extreme retracted position of Figure 6 the double needle I, I is again moved forward into the extreme forward position of Figure 1. During this forward movement the loop C comes out of the beard of the longer needle I and slides as indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, over the beard of needle I. The loop C thus takes the position of loop A in Figure 1, encircling the stems of both needles I, I; the sinker. it during this movement is withdrawn. After this the yarn tobe knitted is again laid on the stem of the needles I, then being looped by the corresponding sinkers I3. and the above described a working cycle recommences.

Thus, a knitted fabric structure is' obtained as shown in Figure 15. If this be stretched in the direction of the wales, the structure takes the form shown in Figure 16. j

The apparatus shown in Figures 7 to 12 66rresponds except for the sinkers, to that of the example already described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Asaccording to Figures 7 to 12 two yarns are to be worked simultaneously, the single sinker II has two front catches.

For simplicity, in describing the loop formation-according to Figures 7 to 12 and I to 12,

a single loop A will be started with, which in- Flgures 7 and '1 encircles the stems of both needles I, I; this loop A lies below the sinker I3 (omitted in Figure 7'). As shown in Figure 'ItwoyarnsBandEarebothlaidonthestems of the needles I, the yarn E being the ground yarn and the yarn B the binder yarn: the ground yarn has here been assumed thicker than thebinder yarn, but naturally both can be of the same thickness.- When the double needle I,

I is withdrawn from the extreme forward 'position of Figure 7 to the half stroke intermeunder the ground yarn E. During this step the loop A engages the looped binder yarn whereupon the binder yarn loop pulled through the loop A forms in its turn on the double needle a loop C as shown in Figure 9. The double needle I, I is now moved from the intermediate position of Figure 9 to the extreme forward position of Figure 10, the ground yarn E and the loop C coming out of the beard of the shorter needle I while the loop A comes between the stems .of the two needles I, I, that is into the space II, so that it encircles only the stem of needle I, as Figure .10 shows. Figure 10 shows the corresponding loop structure.

The double needle is now withdrawn from the extreme forward position to the extreme retracted position of Figure 12, the beard of the shorter needle I being closed in passing after the loop C and the ground yarn E have entered under the beard of the longer needle I as in dicated by an arrow in Figure 11, so that the loop A having come out of the space II slides over the beard of needle I. The loop A is then knocked over the head of the longer needle I, as appears from Figure 12, the loop C and the ground yarn E passing through the loop A so that the ground yarn E forms the stitch shown at F in Figures12 and 12, as being drawn through the loop A; the limbs-of loop C when the loop A is knocked over form loops D encircling the limbs of the loop A. The double needle I, I is then moved from the extreme rear position of Figure 12 into the extreme forward position of Figure ,7, the loops F and C coming out of the open beard of the longer needle I as indicated by an arrow in Figure 12, then sliding over the beard of the shorter-needle I. Thereafter the loops C and F arrive below the sinker II, thus taking the place of loop A of Figure '7, the ground yarn and binder yarn are again laid on the stems of needles I and the described cycle is repeated.

A knitted fabric structure is obtained as shown in Figure 17. As regards the binder yarn the structure corresponds to that of Figures 15 and 16 in so far as loops C of this yarn have been formed which by their limbs encircle the limbs of the loops of the preceding course with ring-like loops D. On the other hand, the ground yarn has been knitted into ordinary stitches the loops F of which are drown through the loops C.

The method can also be carried out by only laying the ground thread E on the needles I after the double needles have moved through half the needle stroke from the extreme forward position of Figure 7 to the intermediate position of Figure 9, the operation then continuing as in Figure '10 and so on and being otherwise the same as a that above described.

diate position of Figure 9, the beard or the 'shorterneedle I after'catching the binder yarn B is in passing closed by the press I4 so that the srolmd yarn E and the loop A slide over this beard as may be seen in Figures. The loop A then carries the ground yarn E with it ,unless it slips past under the latter, it being immaterial to the final result which it does: in Figure 9 it has been assumed that the loop A has slipped According to the modification of Figure 14 the two needles I and I are not assembled into a rigid unit, but are separate from one another, provision being made to leave a space I I between the needle stems I, I which serves to receive the loops temporarily. Provision is further made to move the respectiveneedle rows I, I each by a separate needle bar, the shanks I, II of the needles I, I being turnedin opposite directions. The provision-of two separate needle bars for the two respective groups of needles permits relative adjustment of the beards of the shorter and longer needles when the machine, which can in of the needle.

scribed in the preceding examples, first a half stroke being eifected from theextreme forward position of the needle elements, followed by a reelements are provided, by which the double needles arranged parallel with one another for example in a flat needle bed are reciprocated longitudinally in the requisite manner by the aid of respective needle bars. Two adjacent double needles are shown in Figures 18 to 25.

In Figures 18 and 18, A indicates the last made loop of thefabric, which encircles the stem of the needle I and lies below the sinker Il. E is the ground yarn to be knitted, which is laid on the stems of the needles I and lies in a front er yarn which thusforms the stitch C drawn I through the loop F as in Figures 22 and 22,

From the mid position of Figure 22 the double needle is moved to the "extreme forward position of Figure 2a, the loop 0 sliding back on the stem of the needle I and out from under the beard thereof, while the loop F slides back on the stem of the needle I and comes into the intermediate space II between the needles I, I. The double needle now moves back a full stroke into its fully retracted position. During this movemerit the loop C slides in the direction of the catch of the sinkers IS; the sinker is omitted in Figure 18. In Figure 18 the double needle is in an intermediate position from which it moves in the direction of the arrow to the extreme retracted position of Figure 19. During this retraction of the double needle, as indicated by an arrow in Figure 18, the ground yarn E enters under the beard of the longer needle I while the loop. A passes over its tip 2 which has in passing been closed into the eye of the needle I by the press l4, after the yarn E has entered under the beard Thereafter the loop-A is then knocked over the head of the needle I passing over the looped ground yarn which thusforms the stitch F drawn through the loop A as she in Figures 19 and 19*. r

From the extreme retracted position of Figure 19 the double needle I, I is moved forward into the extreme forward position of Figure 20. The

loop F, as indicated by an arrow in Figure 19, comes out from under the heard of the needle I and slides over the heard of the needle I on to the stem of the latter; the loop F then encircles the stems of both needles I, I as shown in Figure 20. During the said forward movement of the double needle the shorter needle I has the stemdirected horn on its head 0 temporarily'pressed into the eye I in the stem of the needle I by Pressure exerted on the projection I2 on the stem of I the needle I, in order to prevent entry of the loop A into the intermediate space H. In the extreme forward position of the double needle I. I as shown in Figure 20, the binder yarn B is laid on the stem of the needle element I,- above the loop 1'', and is then looped by the sinker I3 (Figure 20) The double needle is thenwithdrawn part of its stroke from the extreme forward position, the looped-binder yarn B coming under the beard oi the needle I in the. manner indicated by an arrow in Figure 20, while the loop F slides over the beard of the needle I, the tip 0 being for-thispurpose transitorily pressed into the eye I! in the stem of this needle, by the press I6. Figure 21 arrow shown in Figure 23 over the beard of the needle I transitorily closed by the press I4. Further a relative movement between the needles I,. I occurs'which brings the tip 20f the longer needle I into the eye 9' on the head I ofthe' shorter needle I, as Figure 24 shows, so that the loop C sliding oil! the beard of the needle I then slides over the beard of the needle I, while the loop F can and does pass up under the heard 1 of the needle I. In this way after the binder yarn B laid along the stems of needles I according to Figure 20, has been formed into a loop C s by the steps described with referenceto Figures 21, 22 and 23, it is looped ringwise round thetwo limbs of the previously formed loop F as at D in Figures 23 to 26, the loop' C formed by the binder yarn being finally knocked over the needle I, while the loop F is held back b' the needle I.

A relative movement of'the ne les I. I then takes place, at least the long needle I moving forward, so that the beard of the'needle I is released and theloop F moves out'irom under this beard as Figure 25 shows; if in this step the needle I is also moved forward..its movement must obviously be less than that of needle I. Then as shown in-F'igure 2 the ground yarn I: is again laid on the stems o the needles I above the loop F and looped by th sinkers as appears I from Figure 25'. Thus the working position of Figures 18 and 18 is again reached and the cycleabove described is repeated, in that by means of the double needle ilrst a normal stitch F is produced, then the binder thread B laid on the stem of the needle I and a stitch C produced and so on. The knitted structure shown in Figure 26 is obtained. This comprises. as a result of the steps described, the stitches formed by the aid of the binder yarn B, between the bights of the loops of a row of loops, consisting of normal loops formed of the other yarn E, the limbs of which are encircled by the loops D of the making the fabric run-proof.

The method of the invention can be practiced for example on a suitably arranged flat bed knitting machine, namely a so-called Cotton machine.

shows an intermediate stage of this return movement of the double needle, which movement conslat-Lot gar-half stroke, finishing in the position of Figure 22. In Figures 21 and=2l' the looped yarn B is under and the loop F is over the-beard of the needle I. The loop F then slides over the beardof theneedle I and so overthelooped bind- What we claim is:

1. m the production ofknitted goods the steps which include drawing a secondary loop through a normal loop of a preceding course of stitches a plurality of times by means of point needles, thereby producing looping parts in the limbs of the secondary loop which encircle the limbs of I the loop through whichit has been drawn.

. 2. In the production of knitted goods the steps which consist in drawing a secondary loop. of ground yarn once and a secondary loopotbinder yarn a-plurality of times through a normal loop of a preceding course oi stitches, thereby producing ordinary stitches in the ground yarn and looping parts in the limbs of the secondary loop of binder yarn which encircle the limbs of the loopthrough which it has been drawn.

former thus which consist in drawing a'seoondary loop oiground yarn once and a-secondary loop or hinder yarn a pluralityoi times through a normal loop of a preceding course of stitches comprising both ground and binder yarn, thereby producing ordinary stitches in the ground yarn and looping parts in the limbs oi the secondary loop or hinder yarn which encircle both yarns in the limbs of the loop through which it has been drawn.

4. In the production oi knitted goods the steps which include drawing a secondary loop of ground yarn through a normal loop 01 a preceding row of stitches thereby producing a normal stitch, and drawing a secondary loop or binder yarn twice through said first secondary loop thereby producing looping parts in the limbs or the loop or binder yarn which encircle the limbs of the loop or ground yarn.

5. A method of knitting which includes drawing a secondary loop through a previously formed normal loop once by each one of a plurality. of associated knitting needles.

6. A method of knitting as set forth in claim 5 wherein the knitting needles are moved simultaneously by the same amount.

7. A method of hiitting which includes the steps of knitting a normal stitch in a ground yarn by one of a pair 01' stepped needles, drawing a loop of binder yarn through the loop or said normal stitch by means of said needle, and then drawing said loop of binder yarn again through said normal stitch loop by means of the other said needle.

8. A method of knitting which comprises knitting a cours of normal stitches in a ground yarn by means 01 a row of long bearded needles, passing a row of shorterbearded needles through said course oi normal stitches, laying a binder yarn on the stems of said shorter needles and looping it between them, drawing said binder yarn loops through said normal stitches by said shorter needles. moving said needles relatively. to one another to bring the tips of the beards oi the long needles into engagement with the heads oi the beards oi the shorter needles, and knocking the normal stitches over both sets of needles while catching the binder yarn under the beards oi the longer needles, and moving said needles apart to admit a new ground yarn for the next course.

9. A knitting machine comprising two bearded needles. an eye on the head of the shorter of said needles and means ior moving the two needle directed towards and opposite an eye in the stem oithe longer needles, a projection on the stem oi the shorter needle. and means adapted to press on said projection and thereby deflect said shorter needle to cause said horn to enter. said eye.

11. A method i'or mechanical production of run-proof knitted goods on flat-knitting machines, in which the knitted structure is produced 'by thecooperation oi a'plurality of needles at each course said needles being arranged one behind another and having beards relatively stepped and extending in the same direction, the control of the needles being such that the stitches ot a course encircle the stitches oi a preceding course with ring-like loops.

12. A flat-knitting device for the mechanical production of run-proof stockings and the like comprising a plurality of bearded needles arranged one behind another and having their beards in stepped position, but extending in the same direction, in combination with one single common press for temporary closing the beards oi the needles, and means for moving said needles relatively to one another.

13. In a machine for producing run-proof knitted goods, the combination comprising double needles having their points arranged in a row under each other and on the same side and their stems being spaced so as to form an intermediate space serving for the reception of the course to be transferred. a nose on the heads oi the lower needles to enclose said space by the action of the Press.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 in which said pointed needles are independently movable and the lower needles are provided on their heads with an eye for receiving the beards or the higher needles.

WALTER Hm'r. ARNOLD niins'mmn. 

